Gather Around the Table

We each have a fond memory of an exquisite meal highlighted by an exciting host. Step out of the ordinary and be our guest for a meal that will not only please your palate, but bring to light Ketchikan's unique and often eccentric culture. Hear of Norwegian grandmothers in the Lutheran Church basement, competing to cook up the best fish cake in town. Relive tales of stormy nights at sea while savoring grilled King Salmon, or comparing the rich tastes of Spot Prawns, King, and Dungeness crab.

Our five course tasting menu is choreographed to highlight Alaska's sustainable, wild bounty. Your personal chef serves your succulent meal while sharing secret methods of brining, roasting, smoking and grilling. Sample hot and cold smoked salmon, Spot prawns, King and Dungeness crab, saffron-infused bouillabaisse, halibut, salmon and a luscious dessert. Learn the best way to remove pin bones, how to spot a truly fresh fish at the market, and how to cook fish to perfection. You will depart confident in your ability to duplicate your sumptuous meal for friends at home.

Extraordinary Venue, Purposeful Storytelling

Good food makes an excellent meal; add a superior storyteller, and you create a celebration. We believe that a magnificent setting is a key ingredient in a well-planned party. When you enter our private club room, meet your charismatic host, then marvel at the striking view of Thomas Basin Harbor, Deer Mountain, Tongass Narrows, and Pennock Island. Eagles regularly circle, while seals and other marine animals frequent the water below the large windows. Linger over each magnificent course as Ketchikan lore is revealed for your entertainment. Laughter and lively conversation flow as your host divulges a culture ripe with eccentric customs, ancient traditions, and witty anecdotes. Tales of bear encounters, boating mishaps and small-town history provide you with a genuine connection with Ketchikan and Alaska. Comfortable in the elegant aerie overlooking the waterfront, relax with your group, relish your meal, and relive Alaskan chronicles as told by your engaging storyteller host.

dining

Epicurean Enthusiast

Who doesn't appreciate the peaceful experience of an unhurried gourmet meal? Our five-course tasting menu is choreographed to highlight the very best of Alaska. Each of the celebrated species is represented in our carefully-designed bill of fare: salmon, halibut, King and Dungeness Crab, and Spot Prawns. From Native techniques of smoking, to modern-day grilling, savor the simple essence of natural, fresh seafood. The meal's pace and the rich storytelling highlight the casual, easygoing culture of Alaska, while the cuisine satisfies your yearning for fine dining. Savor heirloom recipes that been passed down for generations as well as creative contemporary recipes using original spices. We believe that a fine meal should not be limited to taste. A triumphant tasting menu is an emotional experience: the definitive memory to take home from your vacation. Each visitor to our table is an honored guest: we look forward to serving you.

fishing

Local, Family Fisherman

When you flake off a taste of grilled salmon, there is history in every bite. Each salmon on our menu was caught by Chuck Hanas, who captains the F/V Sand Dollar. Chuck has been a troller his entire life, and personifies one of the mainstays of Ketchikan culture: the independent family fishing boat. Hear stories of families fishing together, from children who learn to bait hooks as toddlers, to wives and husbands schooling their children at sea. We are very proud of our nautical heritage, and are eager to share our knowledge of harvesting Alaska's pristine waters. Through exciting stories, learn the differences between long-lining, trolling, seining, and gill-netting. Return to your ship ready to regale your fellow travelers with your newfound special knowledge. When you can trace your food to its source - an artisan who handles each fish he brings aboard with careful respect - it makes the simple pleasure of eating more personal, and markedly more gratifying.

fish

Private Chef

What better opportunity to discover cooking techniques than to have your own private chef? If you've ever felt nervous about approaching the seafood counter in your local market, we have the answer for you. When you experience the Chef's Table, you have access to a personal tutor in the culinary arts. As your private chef arrives from the kitchen adjacent to the club room, sit and discuss a variety of cooking skills, ranging from simply choosing the best halibut fillet in the market, to creating the finest reduction sauce to accompany salmon. Grilling, smoking, baking, steaming: for every method of preparation, your chef will provide exclusive guidelines and advice. Not only will you enjoy a tasting menu not to be forgotten, but you will gain knowledge to prepare exceptional seafood dishes - a skill to take home and use time and again.

The Best Fishcake in Town

Ketchikan may seem like a sleepy town, but underneath the picturesque exterior lies an undercurrent of competition and rivalry. Sweet elderly women who clasp hands most days suddenly unsheathe their claws in the basement of the Lutheran Church each March.

It happens right about the time of the annual Fish Cake Bake Off. And it can be as ugly down in the church kitchen as it is delectable in the vestibule upstairs.

"The consistency is good, Anna, but using half-and-half is a problem with your cake. They aren't rich enough unless you use cream."

"Ingrid, your mother has been using half-and-half for years! Why, it's just wonderful as it is. Yours are a little greasy, if you ask me, because you're using salmon mixed with cod instead of halibut. The key is keeping to the white fish."

"Ha! My cakes win prizes every year because the salmon gives it more flavor. Why, every man in church looks for my platters first. Everyone says so."

Blissfully naïve to the battle waging below them in the warm confines of the kitchen, parishioners in the foyer snack their way through the city's finest fishcakes. Generations of determined Norwegians have created secret heirloom recipes that are coveted by members of the community. Who will take home the blue ribbon? As one Lutheran mutters, satisfactorily patting his swollen belly on the walk home, "Who cares?"